Official Announcement of Production Discontinuation
Volkswagen has officially confirmed that the Touareg will cease production next year, with the Final Edition serving as the swan song for the brand’s flagship SUV – at least in its current form with an internal combustion engine.
Final Edition Features
The Final Edition is not limited to one specification, as it is available across all trim levels. A common feature for all variants is the subtle ‘Final Edition’ engraving on the rear window frames. The same marking appears on the illuminated sill plates, dashboard trim, and the leather-covered gear selector lever in more expensive models.
The base Touareg version comes standard with heated and 18-way adjustable comfort seats, a Curved Display infotainment system, 18-inch wheels, and a full suite of ADAS systems. The Elegance trim adds IQ.Light matrix LED headlights, 3D rear lights, multi-color ambient lighting, interior accents in brushed aluminum or fine wood, and chrome exhaust tips. The R-Line stands out with a sportier body kit and seats, while the full-fledged R Hybrid has everything one could dream of, including 22-inch alloy wheels with blue brake calipers.
Availability and Pricing
The VW Touareg Final Edition will be available for order until the end of March 2026. In Germany, prices start from €75,025 for the base model and go up to €103,005 for the Touareg R Hybrid. The most powerful version has a combined output of 456 hp and 700 Nm of torque from its plug-in hybrid setup.
Ambitious Project and Model History
Like the long-discontinued Phaeton luxury sedan, the Touareg was a passion project of the then-CEO Ferdinand Piëch. Beyond expanding the German brand’s appeal into the premium SUV territory, it also shared development costs with the original Porsche Cayenne, allowing the Stuttgart brand to launch its first SUV, which led to rapid sales growth.
VW sold over 1.2 million units of the Touareg, including 471,000 units of the first generation (2002-2009), 483,000 units of the second generation (2010-2018), and 265,000 units of the third generation (2018-2026). The current model is mechanically related to the Audi Q7 and Q8, Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga, and Lamborghini Urus, although it hasn’t quite reached the popularity of its siblings. This is likely one of the reasons prompting VW to discontinue it.
Notable Touareg Achievements
The company also shared several highlights from the model’s 24-year lifecycle. In 2005, a specially equipped Touareg prototype named Stanley won the autonomous vehicle race in the Nevada desert. In 2006, a production model with a V10 TDI engine towed a Boeing 747. In 2011, another example with a V6 TDI completed the 22,750 km route along the Pan-American Highway from Argentina to Alaska in 11 days, 17 hours, and 22 minutes. Finally, racing versions of the Touareg won the Dakar Rally in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Possible Nameplate Return
Volkswagen has not confirmed a successor, but the press release explicitly referred to the ‘Touareg model with an internal combustion engine’, suggesting the name might return as an electric vehicle.
Recent reports indicate that the ID. Touareg might debut around 2029, crowning the electric lineup as the first VW on the new SSP architecture. This would distinguish it from the upcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric, which is slated to debut in 2026 based on the PPE platform.
This strategy aligns with VW’s broader plan to revive its ICE model names for the future electric lineup – starting with the ID.Polo next year.
The discontinuation of the Touareg marks the end of an era for one of VW’s most technologically advanced SUVs, which not only served as the brand’s flagship but also participated in numerous engineering challenges. Its successor is likely to inherit not just the name but also the ambition to be a technology leader, now in the electric era, reflecting the broader transformation of the automotive industry.